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A New Mexico author, Brian D’Ambrosio, was sentenced to six months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution of $22,508 after being convicted of stealing historical artifacts from the Montana Historical Society. In addition, D’Ambrosio was fined $4,000.
D’Ambrosio, known for writing books about Montana history, took several valuable historical items while conducting research between April and December 2022. Among the stolen artifacts were letters written by Nancy Russell, the wife of famed artist Charlie Russell, an 1889 Montana Constitution Convention flag and program, a Ravalli County Sheriff’s card from the early 1900s, and a 1905 letter from Centennial Brewing in Butte. These items were subsequently listed for sale on eBay.
The FBI conducted an investigation that involved an undercover agent who contacted D’Ambrosio to purchase some of the stolen items. D’Ambrosio pleaded guilty to felony theft of major artwork in June, and as part of a plea agreement, nine other charges were dropped.
D’Ambrosio’s lawyer had requested probation instead of jail time, citing personal struggles in the author’s life. However, U.S. District Court Judge Brian Morris emphasized that the severity of the crime warranted a prison sentence. “When someone does something stupid, it’s usually a one-time thing. But this happened over and over again,” Judge Morris remarked.
Tim Fox, President of the Montana Historical Society’s Board of Trustees, expressed satisfaction with the sentence, emphasizing the irreplaceable value of the items stolen. “Every item in our archives is a treasure of immeasurable value to our great state and its people,” Fox stated. “D’Ambrosio’s actions violated trust for personal gain.”
Although some of the stolen items were returned, the Montana Historical Society is still working to recover the remainder. The incident has raised concerns about trust and access for future researchers. MTHS Director Molly Kruckenberg expressed the lasting impact on the institution, noting, “We will never forget what he did, but we are working diligently to restore the trust that was taken from us.”
